Ogun State Workers Begin Indefinite Strike Over Pension Arrears and Minimum Wage Non-Compliance

Civil and public servants in Ogun State have commenced an indefinite strike to protest the state government’s failure to address several longstanding labour grievances, including non-remittance of pension deductions and the refusal to implement the new national minimum wage.

The action was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by the Ogun State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Demola Hameed-Benco, following a statewide congress of organised labour held in Abeokuta.

According to the statement, all government workers have been directed to immediately withdraw their services. The NLC accused the Ogun State Government of persistent non-compliance with the Contributory Pension Scheme established under the Ogun State Pension Reform Law of 2008, as amended in 2013, along with the failure to adopt the ₦70,000 minimum wage approved nationally.

“Organised Labour in Ogun has declared an indefinite strike over the non-remittance of pension deductions and non-implementation of minimum wage by the state government,” the statement read in part.

Hameed-Benco warned that any worker who defies the strike directive does so at their own risk, stating clearly that the unions will not accept responsibility for any repercussions faced by non-compliant staff.

The statement also called on the state government to immediately open dialogue to resolve the issues, cautioning that the industrial action would continue until all demands are comprehensively addressed. The unions pledged to maintain solidarity and keep workers updated on further developments.

Context: The New Minimum Wage

The strike comes against the backdrop of broader labour disputes across Nigeria over wage reforms and the cost-of-living crisis.

Following the removal of fuel subsidies in 2023 and related fiscal adjustments by the current administration, the Federal Government entered into protracted negotiations with labour unions to review the national minimum wage.

By mid-2024, both parties agreed to increase the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. In July 2024, the Nigerian Senate passed legislation to formalise the new benchmark and reduced the review cycle from five years to three years to reflect rising inflation and economic pressures.

While some states—such as Edo and Lagos—have begun implementing the new wage, many others have yet to comply. In response, the NLC has vowed to escalate its campaign for nationwide enforcement, warning that both state governments and private sector employers who ignore the new standard will face organised resistance.

The Ogun strike signals a potential wave of similar industrial actions as unions intensify efforts to secure compliance with the revised wage policy and protect pension rights.